Information card storing method and apparatus

ABSTRACT

Method and apparatus for constructing, storing and retrieving a large number of information cards for use with apparatus such as microreaders or microreader printers. The information cards may include magnetic cards, optical cards, punched cards, tapes, film cards, microfilms and microfiches. Information cards constructed according to the invention are stored at random in storage apparatus constructed according to the invention and are retrieved therefrom in an orderly manner by disclosed card search and selection means.

United States Patent [1 1 Yanagawa [111 3,805,428 1451 Apr. 23, 197.4

[ INFORMATION CARD STORING METHOD AND APPARATUS [75] Inventor: NobuyukiYanagawa,Oimachi Yamada, Japan [73] Assignee: Ricoh Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan [22] Filed: Dec. 23, 1971 [2]] Appl. No.: 211,370

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Dec. 30, 1970 Japan 45-122643 Feb. 27, 1971 Japan..... 4'6-009670 Feb. 27, 1971 Japan..." 46-009671 Oct. 6, 1971 Japan 46-077823 [521 U.S. Cl. 40/68 R, 402/503 [51] Int. Cl. G09f 11/06 [58] Field of Search 40/68 R, 72, 78, 78.07; 281/45 A; 402/503 [56] References Cited I I UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,220,189 ll/l940 Wolters 40/68.6 3,145,326 8/1964 McGannon 402/503 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 436,832 0/1935 Great Britain 402/503 1,045,406 6/1953 France 281/45 A 667,540 7/1963 Canada 402/503 905,606 3/1954 Germany 402/503 666,431 7/1965 Belgium 281/45 A Primary Examiner-Robert W. Michell Assistant Examiner.l. H. Wolff Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Cooper, Dunham, Clark, Griffin & Moran [5 7] ABSTRACT Methodand apparatus for constructing, storing and retrieving a large number of information cards for use with apparatus such as microreaders or microreader printers. The information cards may include magnetic cards, optical cards, punched cards, tapes, film cards,

microfilms and microfiches. Information cards constructed according to the invention are stored at random in storage apparatus constructed according to the invention and are retrieved therefrom in an orderly manner by disclosed cardsearch and selection means.

5 Claims, 19 Drawing Figures PATENTEmrn 23 m4 SHEEI'I BF 9 v r INVENTOR. NOBUVU/f/ YQNAGAWA BY [M M ATTORNEY WENTEDmza m I 3.805428 SHEET t W 9 NU) PP INVENTOR. NOBUyU/f/ VAA/AGflM A ATTORNEY FATENTEDAPR 23 mm sum 5 [1F 9 INVENTOR. NOBUVUK/ mm 6401/4 ATTORNEY MTENTEDAPR 23 mm SHEET 7 UP 9 INVENTOR. NOBUWK/ V/IA/AGflW/l ATTORNEY MIENTEHAPRZS 1914 3805428 saw a m 9 INVEN TOR. NOBW'UK/ FAA/464F144 A TTOJP/VE) INFORMATION CARD STORING METHOD AND APPARATUS BACKGROUND or THE INVENTION This invention relates to a method of and apparatus for storing a large number of information cards for use with microreaders or microreader printers.

The information cards referred to above include magnetic cards, optical cards, punched cards. tapes,

'film cards, microfilms, and microfiches. These information cards are stored at random in storage apparatus for microreaders or microreader printers, but should be retrieved therefrom in an orderly manner by card search and selection means. A recorder information unit or units of the information card thus retrieved are projectedby optical means on to a screen or an exposing position of a printer.

Such information cards should be stored in such a manner that they can positively be held in place in the storing apparatus and at the same time they can readily be retrieved from the apparatus when it is necessary to do so. No known information .card storing method has ever been proposed which can satisfy these two conflicting requirements.

In one prior art method of storing information cards known in the art and generally employed in practice, information cards are inserted in a filing case by gravity and placed therein by guide means. When this method is used, it is not possible to obtain stability in storing information cards. Besides, the information cardsmay be dislodged from the storing apparatus when it is replaced by a new apparatus, and cause inconvenience in the handling of information cards later.

It is desirable, therefore, to provide an information card storing method and an apparatus therefor which obviate the aforementioned disadvantages of conventional information card storing method, and which fully meet the aforesaid two requirements.

Conventional information cards to be stored in storage apparatus each comprise a card proper mounting a large number of recorded information units therein, and a clip attached to such card proper. Symbols in code form are attached to the clip in a suitable position, particularly on its back, for identification and selection by search and selection means. These information cards are of such form that it-is not possible for the user to attach a clip to each information card as desired, so that difficulties are encountered in replacing the old clip by a new one and hence changing the code symbols. According to the prior art system, the clip is a metal bar which is bent and attached to the card proper or adhesivelyadhered thereto. Securing of the clip to the card proper thus requires a complex process and involves a number of steps.

Proposals have been made to use a double face tape for attaching the clip to. the card proper. However, the use of such tape is not free from the difficulties encountered in replacing the old clip by a new one as aforementioned.

According to the conventional system, the code symbols attached to the clip in a suitable position, particularly on its back, for the purpose of identification and selection by search and selection means are attached to the clip afterbeingprepared separately from the reproduction of recorded information units mounted on the card proper. This makes it necessary to enter a large number of code symbolscorresponding to a large numrally in suitably spaced apart relationship, so that the ber of information cards in the clips of respective information cards without errors. Since the number of information cards and the number of code symbols for the information cards are large, the entering of the code symbols'in the clips without errors involves a troublesome operation and may sometimes result in entering wrong code symbols in the information cards.

It is additionally desirable, therefore, to provide information cards and a method of producing such information cards which obviate the aforementioned disadvantages of conventional information cards, and which are suitable for use in the information card storing method and apparatus according to this invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION code symbols thereon between such two support plates of such storing case with projections on opposite ends of such clip being received in two of a large number of support indentations formed in marginal portions of such support plates each having mounted therein the magnet or magnets, at least portions of such clip which engage the marginal portions of the support plates being made of a magnetic material so that the information card can be held in place in the storing case by the magnetic action of the magnets and the magnetic material. This method is effective to positively hold the information card in place in the storing case by magnetic action and also to retrieve the same from the storing case with relative ease.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided an apparatus adapted to carry the foregoing method into practice which comprises a storing case comprising two discal support plates each being formed with a large number of support indentation in an outer peripheral portion thereof and having a magnet or magnets mounted in the outer peripheral portion, such discal support plates being uniformly spaced apart from each other and rotatably mounted on a central portion of such storing case, and an information card can be inserted in the storing case and held in place radially thereof. 7

The two discal support plates may be arranged spiinformation cards may be disposed in a number of layers in the storing case.

The aforesaid storingcase maybe formed in slidable box form. When this is thecase, opposite side walls of the storing case in box form are each formed in one marginal portion thereof with indentations for receiving projections of the clip of the information card and each has apermanent magnet mounted in the marginal portion.

An information card adapted for use with theforegoing method and apparatus according to this invention comprises a card proper formed with a cutout in each of opposite parallel lateral margins thereof, and a clip formed with a groove for receiving therein a marginal portion of the card proper adjacent the opposite parallel lateral margins, opposite open ends of such groove each being formed with a hole for force fitting therein a pin made of a magnetic material to constitute a projection of the clip so that forward ends of the pins force fitted in the holds in the opposite open ends of the groove are engaged in the cutouts formed in the card proper. This construction facilitates the mounting of the clip on the card proper in each information card and hence the changing of code symbols.

The information card constructed as aforementioned can be produced conveniently by the following process. When recorded information units are reproduced on the card proper, the code symbols of such information card are recorded simultaneously on the card proper and removed from the card proper to be attached to the clip. It is thus possible to preclude misrepresentation of the information cards when the code symbols of the information cards are entered in the clips and to obviate the trouble of this entering.

Additional objects as well as features and advantages of the invention will become evident from the description set forth hereinafter when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view, partly broken away, of a first embodiment of a storing case adapted to carry the method according to this invention;

FIG. '2 is a perspective view of a microfiche;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view of the storing apparatus provided with search and selection means and retrieval means;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view of the storing case showing a modification of a magnet;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the storing case;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line VIVI of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the storing case;

FIG. 8 is a view'in explanation of the construction of side walls of the storing case shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a view showing various forms of holding indentations;

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view ofa first embodiment of a sectional information card according to this invention;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary sectional view of the information card of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of a second embodiment of the sectional information card according to this invention;

FIG. 13 and 14 are an exploded perspective view and a sectional view of a third embodiment of the sectional information card;

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary perspective view of a modification of the clip;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the card proper of an information card produced according to this invention;

FIGS. 17 and 18 are perspective views showing two different manners of attaching code symbols to the clip of an information card; and

FIG. 19 is 21 sections] view taken along line A-A of FIG. I8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION In FIG. 1, discal support plates 2 and 3 each formed in an outer peripheral portion throughout the entire extent thereof with support indentations 4 disposed substantially equidistantly from one another as best shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 are secured to opposite ends of a core 1 to provide a storing case. A permanent magnet 5 in annular form is mounted on each discal support plate, concentrically therewith, along support indentations 4 to be disposed radially inwardly of support indentations 4.

In FIG. 2, there is shown an information card comprising, in this example, a microfiche 6 mounting therein a large number of recorded information units 6A and having a clip 7 attached to one lateral margin thereof. Clip 7 has a length slightly greater than the width of microfiche 6 and extends at opposite end portions thereof beyond two parallel lateral margins disposed normal to clip 7. Extending opposite end portions 7A and 7B are adapted to be received in two support indentations 4 provided in discal support plate 2 and 3 respectively as shown in FIG. 1 when microfiche 6 is stored in the storing case. According to this invention, clip 7 is made of a magnetic material such as an iron bar. Alternatively, a member made of a magnetic material may be embedded in each of the extending opposite end portions 7A and 7B disposed against permanent magnet 5 when the microfiche 6 is stored in the storing case. Code symbols 8 are attached to the clip 7 in a suitable position, particularly on its back, so as to facilitate identification and selection of the microfiche desired by search and selection means. The code symbols may be of any known form, and the search and selection may also be of any known form, such as mechanical, electric, optical or magnetic means.

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, the projecting end portions of clips 7 of the microfiche are received in support indentations 4 formed in the outer peripheral margin of the discal support plates and forcedly held in place therein by the magnetic action of permanent magnet 5.

As noted previously, the information cards discussed herein may comprise, in place of the microfiche 6, other information carrying portions, such as magnetic cards, optical cards, punched cards, tape, film cards, microfilm, etc.

FIG. 3 schematically shows search and selection means 9, microfiche or information card retrieval and insertion means 10 and electrical control means 11 for the two means disposed relative to the rotatable storing case. In the example shown, the code symbols attached to the back of the clip 7 of each microfiche 6 are marks in black color which are read and identified by photoelectric search and selection means. A search signal from the search and selection means is supplied through control means 11 to retrieval and insertion means 10, so that when a desired microfiche is indexed with retrieval and insertion means 10 an electromagnet of the latter is energized to attract the microfiche of in terest and Withdraw the same. The force of attraction of the electromagnet is selected to be greater than the force of attraction acting between clip 7 and permanent magnet 5.

The permanent magnet 5 shown in FIG. 4 is formed with a recess 12 in an outer margin thereof in a position corresponding to the position in which microfiche 6 is withdrawn from a collection of microfiches stored in the storing case so as to reduce the magnetic action of magnet 5 in the recess 12. Permanent magnet 5 should not be fixed to the rotatable discal support plate 2 or 3 so that it may be held against rotation together with the respective discal support plate. By this arrangement, the power of the electromagnet for withdrawing the microfiche 6 can be reduced below that of the electromagnet shown in FIG. 3.

In FIG. 5, two support plates 2 and 3 which are not discal in form are shown as being arranged spirally while being maintained in uniformly spaced apart relationship, thereby permitting to store microfiches in a plurality of layers. In this modification, the adjacent support plates may be constructed to possess a permanent magnet 5 in common as shown in FIG. 6. The storing apparatus of the multiple layer type shown in FIG. 5 is rotatable, and the search and selection means, information card retrieval and insertion means and control circuit form a unit which is elevationally arranged relative to the storing apparatus so that the unit may move along the spirally arranged storing positions. A]-

ternatively, the unit may be fixed and held against movement and the storing apparatus of the multiple layer type may be moved vertically while moving circularly.

In the embodiment shown and described above, each information card or microfiche is forcedly held in position in the support indentations formed in the upper and lower support plates by the magnetic action. In this method, stability can be obtained in storing a number of information cards, and no cards shift their positions when the storing case is inserted in or withdrawn from a microrcader or microreader printer. Withdrawal and insertion of information cards can be carried out with relative ease. The storing case can be moved circularly with a relatively low torque in spite of the fact that the information cards are held in place by a high magnetic force.

FIG. 7 shows another modification ofthe storing case which is in box form. The box-shaped storing case 13 is shown as having support means 14 mounted on two opposite parallel side walls 15 and 16 to project outwardly from an opening defined by opposite walls.

The box-shaped storing case 13 shown in FIG. 7 is formed in each of the two opposite side walls 15 and 16 with a recess 17, shown in FIG. 8, which extends throughout the entire extent of the side wall for a permanent magnet 18 to be embedded therein. Alternatively, a plurality of discontinuous small recesses may be formed locally in place of the recess 17 extending throughout the entire side wall, and a number of small permanent magnets 18 may be embedded in such small recesses.

. A fixing plate 19 made of a magnetically permeable material is secured to each of the side walls 15 and 16 in intimate contact with the permanent magnet or magnets 18 embedded in the recess, so that a gap 29 is provided between each fixing plate 19 and a portion of the side wall 15 or 16 disposed above the permanent magnet or magnets 18. Support means 14 is inserted in gap 20.

Support means 14 is movable within gap 20 vertically in the direction of an arrow 21 or longitudinally along the side wall as shown by an arrow 22. Support means 14 is secured by a screw or other known means after being moved within the gap to determine its position. The position in which the support means is disposed can be adjusted as desired.

Support means 14 may be in the form of an ordinary involute toothed rack; Alternatively, it may be a partition plate having tooth of curved ridges and valleys or a saw-toothed partition plate as shown in FIG. 9 so as to hold information cards or microfiches in place in uniformly spaced apart relationship.

Microfiches 6 can be stored in the storing case in uniformly spaced apart relationship if they are received in the valleys of support means 14 at pins or projections 23 made of iron and extending from opposite ends of each microfiche 6. Support means 14 is made ofa nonmagnetic material, so that the pins or projections 23 made of iron are attracted and held in place by the fixing plate 19, not by the support means, which is magnetized upon being brought into contact with permanent magnet or magnets 18. Accordingly, the pins or projections 23 are brought into engagement with the valleys of the support means 14. Thus, the pins or projections can be positioned in the bottom of the valleys of indentations regardless of the shape of the indentations, and. it is possible to hold the microfiches in position in uniformly spaced apart relationship at all times when they are stored in the storing case accrording'to this invention when the support means 14 is shaped accurately.

The fact that support means 14 permits to adjust its position when mounted on the side wall of the storing case facilitates manufacturing the support means and other parts to fabricate the storing case, because no precision machining to obtain high dimensional accuracy is required inproducing the support means and other parts.

Preferably, an outer surface of fixing plate 19 is flush with an inner surface of a portion of the side wall 15 or 16 below the recess 17 so that information cards may be smoothly inserted in the valleys of support means 14 without any interference.

In FIG. 10, microfiche 6 is shown as mounting therein a number of recorded information units 6A. Cutouts 24 and 24' are formed in opposite parallel lateral margins of microfiche 6 near corners thereof. A clip 7 made of materials such as a synthetic resinous material or a light metal, such for example as aluminum, is formed lengthwise on its front side with a groove 25 for receiving a portion of microfiche 6 therein. The width of clip'7 is sufficiently great at its back, opposite the opening of the broove 25, to attach code symbols thereto.

Lengthwise groove 25 is formed midway at open opposite ends thereof with openings 26 circular in crosssection for force fitting pins 23 therein. When pin 23 is force fitted in one of the openings 26 after microfiche 6 is inserted in the-groove 25 in clip 7, a front end of such pin 23 is engaged in the recess 24 formed in one lateral margin of microfiche 6 as shown in FIG. 11. Likewise, when pin 23' is force fitted in the other opening 26, a front end of such pin 23' is engaged in the recess 24' formed in the other lateral margin of microfiche 6. Thus, microfiche 6 is kept from being dislodged from clip 7, and microfiche 6 can be readily separated from clip 7 upon withdrawal of pins 24 and 24 from openings 26.

The pins are made of a magnetic material so that they may cooperate with the magnet or magnets of the storing apparatus.

In FIG. 12, the cutout 24 formed in one lateral margin of microfiche 6 is rectangular in shape, and a pin 27 of the double bent form is shown therein. Pin 27 includes a main body 27A formed in the shape of an involute tooth which is contiguous with a projecting portion 278 formed at the other end thereof with a lock 27C which is adapted to be engaged in the rectangular recess 24 formed in microfiche 6 for firmly connecting clip 7 to microfiche 6. An opening 28 is of the shape complementary with the shape of pin 27.

The microfiche 6 shown in FIG. 13 and FIG. 14 has a width which is equal to the length of clip 7, and the cutout 24 formed in one lateral margin or microfiche 6 has a greater depth. A portion of microfiche 6 disposed between cutout 24 and one end of the lateral margin is cut off so as to provide an information card in which an edge of microfiche 6 is aligned with an edge of clip 7. It will be evident that the information card shaped as aforementioned may be easier to handle than the information card shown in FIG. and FIG. 11 in which clip 7 extends beyond the edge of microfiche 6.

The clip 7 may be formed such that opposite parallel lateral margins are planar as shown in FIG. 15, and a mat may be applied to each of the lateral margins. In this modification, characters may be written on the lateral margins, thereby permitting the entry of a memorandum in addition to code symbols.

From the foregoing description, it will be evident that the information cards of various forms shown and described herein can be readily produced by assembling a microfiche and a clip. The microfiche and clip are positively connected to each other by means of the pins force fitted in the openings in the clip to engage the microfiche at the forward ends. By removing the pins, it is possible to readily disassemble microfiche from clip, thereby permitting to replace the old clip by a new one.

The clip may be made of a synthetic resinous material or a light metal, such for example as aluminum, by injection molding. Advantageously, the groove 25 and openings 26, 28 may be made to be uniform in crosssection, the openings 26, 28 can be preferably formed later. The pin is made ofa magnetic material to cooperate with the permanent magnet or magnets of the storing case so as to positively hold the information card in place in the storing case.

According to this invention, when recorded information units 6A are reproduced on microfiche 6, code symbols 8 are superposed on one margin of microfiche 6 simultaneously as the reproduction of the information units, as shown in FIG. 16. The marginal portion of microfiche 6 on which code symbols 8 are superposed is severed from the rest of microfiche 6 when the same is assembled with clip 7 to provide an information card, and attached to the back of clip 7 as shown in FIG. 17 and FIG. 18. In an embodiment shown in FIG. 17 a strip carrying code symbols 8 are attached to the back of clip 7; in an embodiment shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, the strip carrying code symbols 8 is inserted in a guide groove 29 provided lengthwise along the back of clip 7.

If the information cards are produced in the manner described above according to this invention, strips carrying code symbols can be prepared simultaneously as recorded information units are reproduced on the microfiches and severed from the microfiches to be mounted on the clips. This eliminates the trouble of entering the code symbols in the clips and the occurrence of misrepresentation of information cards which is inevitable in conventional methods of attaching the code symbols to the clips of information cards.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for storing information cards each comprising a sheet-like information carrying portion and an elongated clip affixed thereto and extending along a marginal portion thereof and having two clip ends extending outwardly from opposed ends of the information carrying portion, said clip including magnetic material along opposed clip ends, said apparatus comprising a spool-shaped storage case including two parallel disc-shaped plates connected to each other by a coaxial core extending normally therebetween, each of said plates including an annular magnet disposed adjacent the radially outward margin thereof, said radially outward margin of each plate including means defining a plurality of outwardly facing indentations, with each indentation of one plate axially aligned with an indentation of the other plate, each indentation being shaped and dimensioned to loosely receive one of said opposed clip ends, the radial distance between the radially outward margin of the plates and the core connecting the plates being dimensioned to matingly receive therewithin the information carrying portion ofthe card, and the axial distance between the plates being dimensioned to matingly receive therewithin the information carrying portion of the card, whereby the information carrying portion of a card can be inserted in the area circumscribed by said plates and said core, the opposed ends of the card clip are receivable within two axially aligned indentation and the magnetic clip material and the annular magnets will engage magnetically to hold said cards in an aligned arrangement within said apparatus, with the information carrying portions of the cards extending radially inwardly toward the core.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein saidannular magnets are disposed on the axially outward surfaces of the plates.

3. Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said core is a hollow cylindrical core extending between the axially inwardly facing surfaces of the plates.

4. Apparatus as in claim 3 wherein each of said plates ia an annular plate extending radially outwardly from said hollow cylindrical core.

5. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said core is a hollow cylindrical core extending between the axially inward surfaces of the plates. 

1. Apparatus for storing information cards each comprising a sheet-like information carrying portion and an elongated clip affixed thereto and extending along a marginal portion thereof and having two clip ends extending outwardly from opposed ends of the information carrying portion, said clip including magnetic material along opposed clip ends, said apparatus comprising a spool-shaped storage case including two parallel disc-shaped plates connected to each other by a coaxial core extending normally therebetween, each of said plates including an annular magnet disposed adjacent the radially outward margin thereof, said radially outward margin of each plate including means defining a plurality of outwardly facing indentations, with each indentation of one plate axially aligned with an indentation of the other plate, each indentation being shaped and dimensioned to loosely receive one of said opposed clip ends, the radial distance between the radially outward margin of the plates and the core connecting the plates being dimensioned to matingly receive therewithin the information carrying portion of the card, and the axial distance between the plates being dimensioned to matingly receive therewithin the information carrying portion of the card, whereby the information carrying portion of a card can be inserted in the area circumscribed by said plates and said core, the opposed ends of the card clip are receivable within two axially aligned indentation and the magnetic clip material and the annular magnets will engage magnetically to hold said cards in an aligned arrangement within said apparatus, with the information carrying portions of the cards extending radially inwardly toward the core.
 2. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said annular magnets are disposed on the axially outward surfaces of the plates.
 3. Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said core is a hollow cylindrical core extending between the axially inwardly facing surfaces of the plates.
 4. Apparatus as in claim 3 wherein each of said plates ia an annular plate extending radially outwardly from said hollow cylindrical core.
 5. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said core is a hollow cylindrical core extending between the axially inward surfaces of the plates. 